ESOL Skills for Life

Entry 3 — Reading
Sample paper 1

Time allowed: 60 minutes

» Please answer all questions.

» Circle your answers in pen, not pencil, on the separate answer sheet.
» You may not use dictionaries.
» You may not use correction fluid.

E3R-S1
 Entry 3 — Reading

Task 1

Elephants
Paragraph one
There are two types of elephant — the African elephant and the Asian elephant, which is
sometimes known as the Indian elephant. If you looked at a photo of them they might look
the same at first glance, but if you took a longer, closer look you would see the differences.

Paragraph two
C (Example) . The Asian elephant has much smaller ears, whereas the African elephant’s ears
are much larger and cover its neck. But in real life, the most noticeable difference is their size.
African elephants are around a metre taller and approximately 1,000kg heavier.

Paragraph three
1. . For example, the shapes of their bodies, and their skin are not the same. Asian
elephants look rounder and have smoother skin. They also tend to have more toenails and
although it is possible for African elephants to have five toenails on their front feet and four
on the back, it is rare. They usually have four on the front and three on the back.

Paragraph four
2. . They both eat grass and plants. They pull these from the trees and ground using
their long noses, which are called trunks. They wave their trunks around to improve their sense
of smell and this helps them locate their next meal.

Paragraph five
3. . They greet each other by wrapping their trunks together. They have a celebration
when an elephant returns after being away and if a baby elephant is unhappy, all the other
elephants come to help.

page 2 Answer all questions.

 Entry 3 — Reading

Questions 1–3
Four sentences are missing from the text on page 2. Look at the following sentences (A–E) and
decide which one best fits each gap. There is one sentence you do not need and an example. Circle
the letter of your answer on your answer sheet.
A What I like most about all elephants is that they are friendly, caring animals.
B There are also quite a few similarities between the African elephant and the Asian elephant.
C (Example) People say you can tell where an elephant comes from by looking at its ears.
D Elephants will help each other in times of need.
E There are a few other differences.

Questions 4–6
Choose the letter of the closest meaning for each word. Look at the text carefully to help you
decide on the best answer. Circle the letter on your answer sheet.
4. glance (paragraph one)
A a quick look
B a great look
C a low look

5. rare (paragraph three)

A impossible
B unusual
C normal

6. locate (paragraph four)

A eat
B find
C taste

Questions 7–9
Choose the letter of the best answer and circle it on your answer sheet.

7. According to paragraph two, the biggest difference is how much bigger

A African elephants are
B African elephants’ ears are
C African elephants’ necks are

8. According to paragraph three,

A African elephants have more toenails than Asian elephants
B Asian elephants have more toenails than African elephants
C There are usually the same number of toenails on both elephants

9. According to paragraph five, when do elephants celebrate?

A when they greet each other
B when a baby elephant is born
C when an elephant comes back

Turn over page

page 3
 Entry 3 — Reading

Task 2

Text A Text B

FREE MEMBERSHIP!
A NEW CINEMA FOR MAYTOWN!
Join Cinema Gold for free! Members
CINEMA GOLD is now open at 16 High Street! can book online and get a 10 per cent
discount!
‹‹ 5 screens
First name: Surname:
‹‹ Extra-wide, comfortable seats
‹‹ New films every week *Required *Required

‹‹ Restaurant and bar Date of birth:

‹‹ Special offers for children and senior citizens Day Month Year
Find more at www.cinemagold.com/Maytown
Postcode: Email:

*Required *Required
Text C
Password:

FREE DRINK AT CINEMA GOLD!

(Your password should include both letters
Complete the information below. We will and numbers)
add you to our mailing list and you can
claim a free drink in our bar. I agree with the terms and conditions

Full name …………………………………… SEND

Email …………………………………………
Postcode …………………………………… Text D
What type of films do you like?
(Please tick at least one) How to claim your free drink
family horror ‹‹ Complete the form to join our mailing
romance science fiction list
adventure ‹‹ Take your form to the cinema bar
Note: if you complete this form, you will receive regular ‹‹ Give it to one of our bar staff
emails from us. They will include special offers and
news about all our latest films. ‹‹ The staff member will get you a free
tea, coffee or fruit juice
One drink per customer
Text E

TODAY’S FILMS
Film Screen Times
Adventure in Space 4 10am and 2.30pm
Barcelona Blues 1 3.30pm, 6pm and 8.25pm
Farmyard Fun 3 6.30pm and 8pm
Lost in Mumbai 4 5pm, 7.05pm and 9.15pm
The Price of Fame 2 9.30pm
Swimming with Dolphins (ENDS TODAY!) 5 11am and 4.10pm

page 4 Answer all questions.

 Entry 3 — Reading

Texts A to E on page 4 are all about a new cinema.

Questions 10–12
Match the texts (A–E) with their purposes. Circle the letter of the correct answer on your answer
sheet. There is one text you don’t need and an example.

Example: to request personal information for a mailing list C

10. to give instructions about getting something for free
11. to advertise a new cinema
12. to apply for Cinema Gold membership

Questions 13–15
Look at texts B and C. Choose the letter of the best answer and circle it on your answer sheet.

13. In text B, what is a suitable password?

A a76p4m
B cinema
C 310760

14. After you complete the form in text B, you should

A email it to Cinema Gold
B take it to the cinema
C click SEND

15. Text C asks people to tick

A one box only
B all the boxes on the form
C a box for each type of film they like

Questions 16–18
Look at all of the texts to decide where to find the following information. Choose the letter of the
best answer and circle it on your answer sheet.

16. Who can have a free drink at Cinema Gold?

A people who join the mailing list
B all the cinema bar staff
C every new customer

17. Which film is on only once today?

A Barcelona Blues
B The Price of Fame
C Swimming with Dolphins

18. Which two films are on screen 4 today?

A Swimming with Dolphins and Adventure in Space
B Adventure in Space and Lost in Mumbai
C Farmyard Fun and Swimming with Dolphins

Turn over page

page 5
 Entry 3 — Reading

Task 3

Bees in the UK
Paragraph A
Experts are warning that the number of bees in the UK is becoming dangerously low. Both main
types of bee — the honey bee and the bumble bee — have decreased in number significantly in
the last 10 years.
Paragraph B
Bees are very important for growing fruit and vegetables. If the number of bees continues to
fall, the UK will lose a lot of money. This is because the sale of fresh food brings in millions of
pounds every year.
Paragraph C
Scientists say there are two reasons why bees are decreasing in number. The first reason is that
new diseases are killing them. The second reason is that farmers are changing the way they
grow food.
Paragraph D
There are ways you can help. One way is to grow a wide variety of plants to attract bees to your
garden. Ideally, you should have plants that have flowers at different times of the year. This is
because honey bees, unlike bumble bees, need food during the winter.
Paragraph E
For more information about how to help bees, visit the ‘Save the Bee’ website. It has information
on voluntary groups that look after bees and a list of plants and flowers you can grow in your
garden to help them.

Number of bees (in millions)

120

100
Number of bees

80

60

40

20

0
1997 2007 2017
bumble bees Year
honey bees

page 6 Answer all questions.

 Entry 3 — Reading

Questions 19–21
The text on page 6 has five paragraphs (A–E). Each paragraph has a purpose. Choose the letter
of the paragraph that best matches the purposes below. Circle the letter on your answer sheet.
You do not need to use all of the paragraphs. There is an example.
Example: to introduce the text A
19. to say where to learn more about helping bees
20. to say why the fall in bee numbers is a problem
21. to explain why the number of bees is going down

Questions 22–24
Choose the letter of the best answer according to both the text and the diagram and circle it
on your answer sheet.

22. Which statement is true of bumble bees?

A they get food from flowers
B they need food in the winter
C they are increasing in number

23. In the period from 1997 to 2017, there have always been
A more bumble bees than honey bees
B more honey bees than bumble bees
C the same number of bumble bees and honey bees

24. In what year were there 60 million honey bees?

A 1997
B 2007
C 2017

Questions 25–27
Look at the list of words. They are in alphabetical order. Things in gardens
Circle the letter of the best answer on your answer sheet.

25. Which word comes first in the list, before bee? bee
A sunflower
B pot
C ant flower

26. Where does fruit come in the list?

A between bee and flower honey
B between flower and honey
C between honey and insect
insect
27. Which word comes last in the list, after tree?
plant
A vegetable
B grass tree
C soil

Copyright © 2017 Trinity College London

End of exam page 7
Skills for Life Entry 3 Reading — Sample paper 1
Answers
1. E
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. C
10. D
11. A
12. B
13. A
14. C
15. C
16. A
17. B
18. B
19. E
20. B
21. C
22. A
23. A
24. B
25. C
26. B
27. A